Controlling rheology and managing decant water quality, together with achieving adequate settled density and shear strength, can pose challenges to operators of tailings storage facilities.For decades, the use of polymers to modify the behaviour of tailings has been promoted by the chemical industry, primarily in thickeners and more recently to improve tailings management and mineral processing efficiency. A recent development is the modification of tailings behaviour using these polymers, post thickener, but prior to deposition - a novel process, which is being referred to by a variety of names such as in-line flocculation and pipe headflocculation, or more commercially as "enhanced tailings disposal".In a large percentage of cases where research or field trials have been undertaken, the results are shrouded by confidentiality issues and are rarely exposed to the technical community through the normal process of scientific papers. Literature that outlines where these processes have been successful is difficult to find and the knowledge is commonly localised within a specific industry sector, or is held within the chemical companies themselves.From a management perspective, it is important to be aware of the technical advantages and risks involved with implementation of this technology, if it is to be considered as a meaningful part of the future tailings management tool kit. Work has been undertaken that describes the design and stability advantages and implications for future tailings storage facilities using the process.Opportunities such as reducing the capital cost of embankment construction, improving the tailings drainage and consolidation characteristics, and improving water recovery and/or clarity together with the potential for seepage reduction have been identified. It is evident that the use of the technology is material-dependent, and its potential for use will need to be considered on a site-specific basis.
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